GRAF SPEE VICTIMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24003, 29 December 1939, Page 6

GRAF SPEE VICTIMS

DORIC STAR AND TAIROA WHEREABOUTS OF CREWS SPECULATION IN AUCKLAND (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, Dec. 28. Considerable uncertainty is being felt in Auckland shipping circles concerning the whereabouts of the majority of the complements of the Blue Star steamer Doric Star (10,860 tons) and the Shaw Savill and Albion steamer Tairoa (7983 tons). Although a few of the crews of the ships, which were among the nine sunk by the Admiral Graf Spee, were landed at Montevideo by the German warship, the only message concerning the remainder has been that they were put on an enemy auxiliary. The Doric Star, bound from Auckland to England, via Sydney and Capetown with a heavy cargo of New Zealand produce, was sunk by the Graf Spee in the South Atlantic on December 2 and the Tairoa, en route from Melbourne to England, was sunk the following dav. Cable messages stated that the master. Captain Stubbs. and four officers of the Doric Star and seven of the crew of the Tairoa. including A. D. Dickson, an Aucklander. were released at Montevideo. Of the complement of the Doric Star, 61 remain unaccounted for. They include three members of the New Zealand Royal Naval 'Volunteer Reserve— R. J. Craig, aged 19. and G. J Lynch, aged 21. of Auckland, and W. J. Wheeler, of Dunedin. All three served the defensive armament of the Doric Star. Those of the crew of the Tairoa still missing total 73 men and include the master. Captain Starr. No announcement has been made of the auxiliary vessel to which the Graf Spee transferred the crews of the sunken merchant ships, but it is assumed in Auckland shipping quarters, who naturally have great interest in the matter, that it may be the liner Windhuk of 16,622 tons. The Windhuk a fast passenger motor ship in the German Africa Line's service, ranks among Germany's best merchant vessels. After spending the first months of the war in the shelter of Lobito Bay. Portuguese West Africa she slipped away to sea under cover of darkness early in November in company with the liner Adollph Woermann. No word of her movements has since been received.